A nurse is preparing to administer gentamicin to a child who weighs 44 lb. The provider prescribes 6 mg/kg/day IV to be administered in three equal doses. Available is gentamicin 40 mg/mL. How many mL should the nurse administer with each dose?

(Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)

Choice A rationale:

Pinching the tube while connecting the syringe to it could potentially damage the tube and does not aid in medication administration.

Choice B rationale:

Elevating the head of the client’s bed to only 10° may increase the risk of aspiration. The head of the bed should be elevated to at least 30° during medication administration and for at least an hour afterward.

Choice C rationale:

Flushing the tube with normal saline following medication administration helps ensure that all medication has been administered and helps maintain tube patency.

Choice D rationale:

Combining crushed medications together in a single syringe can lead to drug interactions and can also increase the risk of tube clogging. Each medication should be administered separately.

Choice A rationale:

Rifampin does not typically cause insomnia.

Choice B rationale:

Rifampin can cause a red or orange discoloration of body fluids, including urine, not blue or green.

Choice C rationale:

It is recommended to take rifampin on an empty stomach, either 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Choice D rationale:

Unusual hair growth is not a known side effect of rifampin.